What is the Innovation Literacy Programme and how’s it going?

For wider context, Greater Manchester was identified as an area where productivity could be improved within small to medium sized employers and a fund was made available by Innovate UK to GM Colleges to support SME’s through the GM FE Innovation Fund (GM FEIF).

As part of the GM FEIF, one of the intended outcomes was the creation of ‘Apprentice Innovation Ambassadors’. To enable this, a programme of sessions was designed and the Innovation Literacy Programme was born. This created the opportunity for apprentices to receive training and discover what innovation can be, how it’s defined and how it can be actioned.

The apprentices on the programme begin by discussing their own interpretations and what it means for them within their group along with their innovation coordinators. The programme allows them to look at idea generation and where ideas come from.

Along the way, they have the opportunity to make a product that showcases their innovative ideas based on a brief. Once made, they investigate how they would then communicate that professionally within an organisation. Part of their journey sees them develop research and communication skills – making them more of an asset to their employer too.

So far, two groups have completed the programme with a total of 17 apprentices and the feedback has been highly positive.

Multi-Channel Marketing apprentice, Joe Blackburn was part of the first cohort and made the most of having the opportunity to work with people from different industries. “I was working with people from completely different backgrounds,” he said. “It taught me to see problems from different angles and communicate my ideas better, helping me become more confident in presenting them.”

Joe works at Diamond Interiors and their Marketing Manager, Nicola Shaw, Marketing noticed a clear change. She added:

“Joe’s confidence grew. He’s really started to come out of his shell and discuss any ideas he has.”

Sessions on the programme include hands-on challenges that are designed to test problem-solving, creativity, and rapid prototyping, with apprentices exploring what it takes to move from an idea to a working concept using testing, refining, and gaining feedback on what they have produced.

The literacy programme in turn benefits an organisation because their apprentice receives professional development while giving them potential to bring innovative ideas to the business.  

Wigan & Leigh College Innovation Literacy Coordinator, Chris Gibirdi said:

“The project is set to continue for another year and we’re looking forward to seeing the continued progress that the apprentices are making and the impact their ideas can have for their employers.”